From the Educator Certification Blog
September 2022 Certification Updates
Mon, Oct 3 2022
Certification Changes and Updates
Updates to Certification Rules
Literacy Endorsment, K-5
Overview: Arizona statute and Board of Education rules require teachers certified prior to August 1, 2025 who provide English language arts instruction in kindergarten through grade five to obtain a Literacy, K-5 endorsement by August 1, 2028. Teachers who are certified on or after August 1, 2025, will be required to obtain the endorsement within three years of certificate issuance. Teachers who hold a Reading Specialist, K-12 endorsement, or a Reading K-8 or K-12 endorsement, are exempt from the Literacy endorsement requirement. Requirements may be subject to change and are fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and Administrative Code: R7-2-601, R-2-607, R7-2-615, and R7-2-621.
Out-of-state certificate or National Board Teaching Certificate: If you hold a valid, current, comparable out-of-state educator certificate/license or National Board Teaching Certificate that is in good standing in another state, follow this link for information and steps to apply under reciprocity.
A formal review is required to verify that all requirements have been met. Please visit the "How to Submit Official Documents" below for the proper submission of the required documents. Failure to submit documents as described could cause a delay in the processing of the application.
- Application: A completed Application for Certification.
- Fee: The fee for this endorsement is $60. Per Board rule, fees are non-refundable.
- AZDPS IVP Card: A valid Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
- Prerequisite Certificate: You must hold a valid Arizona Alternative Teaching, International Teaching, Classroom-Based Standard Teaching, or Standard Professional certificate in early childhood education, elementary education, middle grades education, or special education to apply for this endorsement.
- Appropriate Documentation for Option A, B, or C: Submit the appropriate documentation to meet requirements under Option A, B, or C. Please see the "Requirements for the Literacy, K-5 Endorsement" for information on these options and "How to Submit Official Documents" to ensure you are submitting the required documents as indicated in the instructions.
The applicant must hold one of the prerequisite certificates regardless of the Option seeking to qualify:
- Prerequisite Certificate: A valid Arizona Alternative Teaching, International Teaching, Classroom-Based Standard Teaching, or Standard Professional certificate in early childhood education, elementary education, middle grades education, or special education.
Option A: Coursework and Foundations of Reading Exam
- Coursework: Six (6) semester hours of reading courses to include both of the following:
- Three (3) semester hours in the science of reading instruction, including systematic phonics instruction; -AND-
- Three (3) semester hours in reading instruction, including assessments, instructional practices, and interventions to improve student reading proficiency for struggling readers, including students with the characteristics of dyslexia.
- Arizona Department of Education (ADE) approved training: Completion of ADE-approved Literacy endorsement training may substitute for the semester hours of reading coursework. Fifteen (15) clock hours of training, or the equivalent competency-based credential, is equivalent to one semester hour. -AND-
- Exam: A passing score on the Pearson Foundations of Reading (SA190) exam.
Option B: Verification for Literacy Coursework Waiver and Foundations of Reading Exam
- Verification for Literacy Coursework Waiver: Completion and submission of the LEA Verification – Literacy Coursework Waiver form by an Arizona public school superintendent, personnel director, or principal, may substitute for the six semester hours of reading courses. This form verifies that the applicant is a teacher who provides literacy instruction in kindergarten through grade five and has demonstrated through classroom observations and student achievement data across subgroups using evidence-based measures for at least three consecutive years, that the teacher possesses the instructional knowledge and skills to:
- Effectively teach foundational reading skills, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension;
- Implement reading instruction using high-quality instructional materials;
- Provide effective instruction and interventions for students with reading deficiencies, including students with characteristics of dyslexia. -AND-
- Exam: A passing score on the Pearson Foundations of Reading (SA190) exam.
Option C: Verification for Literacy Coursework and Exam Waiver
- Completion and submission of the LEA Verification: Literacy Coursework and Exam Waiver by an Arizona public school superintendent, personnel director, or principal. By signing this form, the school administrator is verifying that the applicant is a teacher who provides literacy instruction in kindergarten through grade five and meets the following requirements:
- Student Achievement Data: At least 90% of the educator’s full academic year (FAY) students are proficient on the English language arts (ELA) portion of the statewide assessment over the last three consecutive academic years; -AND-
- Knowledge and Skills: The teacher possesses the instructional knowledge and skills and has demonstrated through classroom observations and student achievement data across subgroups using evidence-based measures for at least three consecutive years, that the teacher possesses the instructional knowledge and skills to:
- Effectively teach foundational reading skills, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension;
- Implement reading instruction using high-quality instructional materials;
- Provide effective instruction and interventions for students with reading deficiencies, including students with characteristics of dyslexia.
Documents Requiring Submission by the Verifying Authority
- Official Transcripts: Transcripts that are uploaded through the educator portal or emailed by the applicant are not official and will not be accepted. Official transcripts and foreign credential evaluations must be submitted as follows:
- Electronic official transcripts must be submitted directly by the college or university to [email protected].
- Paper official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope and mailed by the college or university to the Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit; PO Box 6490, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6490.
- Foreign credential evaluations must be sent directly by the approved foreign credential evaluation agency to [email protected] or mailed to the Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit.
- Verification of Literacy Coursework Waiver: If you are seeking to qualify under Option B submit the LEA-Verification for Literacy Endorsement Coursework Waiver form to the verifying HR and request that they complete and submit the form to [email protected].
- Verification of Literacy Coursework and Exam Waiver: If you are seeking to qualify under Option C submit the LEA-Verification for Literacy Endorsement Coursework and Exam Waiver form to the verifying HR and request that they complete and submit the form to [email protected].
Accepted Photocopies from the Applicant
- AZDPS IVP Card: Submit a photocopy of the Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance card.
- Certificate(s) of Training: Submit or upload a copy of the certificate(s) showing completion of ADE-approved literacy trainings.
- Arizona Educator Exams: Submit a photocopy of the official score report documenting a passing score on the Arizona educator exam(s) (AEPA/NES).
Ready to apply - click here for the step-by-step directions
Pursuant to section 41-1093.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, an agency shall limit all occupational regulations to regulations that are demonstrated to be necessary to specifically fulfill a public health, safety, or welfare concern. Pursuant to sections 41-1093.02 and 41-1093.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, you have the right to petition this agency to repeal or modify the occupational regulation or bring an action in a court of general jurisdiction to challenge the occupational regulation and to ensure compliance with section 41-1093.01, Arizona Revised Statutes.
